Expert: Elder Greg Madden - 1/10/2010

Question
Is it your understanding that Peter was named the *head of the church* by Christ, and all those in succession from Peter have some authority in the church?

Barelohim
Apostle of Christ.  

Answer
Barlehim,

I hope you don't mind but your questions was placed in the "Question Pool" (an option for volunteers) and I thought I could help answer you question. Please allow me to share with you what I have learned about this subject...

“The rock” on which Christ will build His church is Peter’s confession (not Peter himslef) that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16). Jesus had never explicitly taught Peter and the other disciples the fullness of His identity, and He recognized that God had sovereignly opened Peter’s eyes and revealed to him who Jesus really was. His confession of Christ as Messiah poured forth from him, a heart-felt declaration of Peter’s personal faith in Jesus. It is this personal faith in Christ which is the hallmark of the true Christian. Those who have placed their faith in Christ, as Peter did, are the church. Peter expresses this in 1 Peter 2:4 when he addressed the believers who had been dispersed around the ancient world.

The New Testament makes it abundantly clear that Christ is both the foundation (Acts 4:11, 12; 1 Corinthians 3:11) and the head (Ephesians 5:23) of the church. It is a mistake to think that here He is giving either of those roles to Peter. There is a sense in which the apostles played a foundational role in the building of the church (Ephesians 2:20), but the role of primacy is reserved for Christ alone, not assigned to Peter. So, Jesus’ words here are best interpreted as a simple play on words in that a boulder-like truth came from the mouth of one who was called a small stone. And Christ Himself is called the “chief cornerstone” (1 Peter 2:6, 7). The chief cornerstone of any building was that upon which the building was anchored. If Christ declared Himself to be the cornerstone, how could Peter be the rock upon which the church was built? It is more likely that the believers, of which Peter is one, are the stones which make up the church, anchored upon the Cornerstone, “and he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame” (1 Peter 2:6).

The Roman Catholic Church uses the argument that Peter is the rock to which Jesus referred as evidence that it is the one true church. As we have seen, Peter's being the rock is not the only valid interpretation of this verse. Even if Peter is the rock in Matthew 16:18, this is meaningless in giving the Roman Catholic Church any authority. Scripture nowhere records Peter being in Rome. Scripture nowhere describes Peter as being supreme over the other apostles. The New Testament does not describe Peter as being the “all authoritative leader” of the early Christian church. Peter was not the first pope, and Peter did not start the Roman Catholic Church. The origin of the Catholic Church is not in the teachings of Peter or any other apostle. If Peter truly was the founder of the Roman Catholic Church, it would be in full agreement with what Peter taught (Acts chapter 2, 1 Peter, 2 Peter).

As to the "succesion from Peter", this is kn own as sacredotalism. Sacerdotalism is the belief that priests are essential mediators between God and man. The word sacerdotal comes from the Latin word for “priest” and literally means “to make sacred.” Catholic, Orthodox, and Anglican forms of worship are sacerdotal.

Sacerdotalism teaches that the priesthood is a special class of churchman and is a necessary part of worship. People cannot approach God on their own, but must come through a priest, whether it is for confessing sin, taking communion, or receiving grace. Any divine blessing conferred upon an individual comes through the Church; that is, through the Church’s ordained priesthood.

The Old Testament law placed the Jews under a sacerdotal system. Aaron and his sons were divinely selected to be the first priests to minister to Israel (Exodus 28:1). The priestly duties included offering sacrifices for the atonement of sin (Hebrews 5:1); representing the nation before God (Exodus 28:9-12); and teaching the people God’s Word (Ezekiel 44:23).

The Old Testament priesthood was a picture of the future ministry of Christ, who fulfills all that the Levitical priesthood anticipated. The book of Hebrews, especially chapters 5-10, presents Jesus Christ as the perfect High Priest and the fulfillment of the Old Testament law. In Christ, the entire legalistic system of sacrifice and ritual, including the priesthood, is made obsolete (Romans 10:4).

The New Testament does not support a sacerdotal system of worship. As Martin Luther points out in The Private Mass and Consecration of Priests, the Holy Spirit has “in the New Testament diligently prevented the name sacerdos, priest or cleric, from being given even to an apostle or to various other offices.” In other words, the Bible never uses the word priest in relation to church leadership; rather, the Bible teaches the universal priesthood of all believers.

When Jesus offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice for sin, God tore the veil in the temple in two, indicating open access to His presence through the body of Christ (Hebrews 10:19-20). Jesus now occupies the office of eternal High Priest, making constant intercession for His people (Hebrews 7:24-25).

Sacerdotalism insulates people from God, erecting human barriers where the New Testament places none. The Scripture is clear that “there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5). Biblically speaking, every believer is a priest “offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).(gotquestions.org)

However, the Bible does teach the "ordination" of those who are called into ministry. Here is a copy from our churchs "Articals of Faith" conserning ordination...

ORDINATION OF MINISTERS -We believe the ordination of ministers is predicated upon Biblical principles and is consistent with the evangelical view. Ordination can be defined as the public ceremony by which Harvest Church acknowledges the divine call, commission, and qualification of a person into ministry and extends its blessings, fellowship, and opportunities for ministry. Ordination is held to be a spiritual and functional rather than sacerdotal. It is important as a public acknowledgment of God’s prior call and commission, but it is not essential. All Christians are equal, but ministers are set apart for special Christian service and leadership. When necessary, the laity can perform all of the functions of ministry except those for which the State requires an ordained minister. Ordination may be performed after a careful examination of the candidate, and their qualification on essential points:

1.     The genuineness of their Christian experience
2.     The sufficiency of their spiritual, moral, emotional, and social maturity
3.     The reality of their divine call
4.     The correctness of their doctrine;
5.     The adequacy of their preparation and practical abilities

Authority and power for ministry are conferred directly by Christ through the Holy Spirit, not through those who perform the ordination ceremony. No particular man or group is essential to the ordination process. Those who participate are dispensable instruments. The stress is upon an immediate spiritual connection with Christ rather than a historically episcopal (apostolic) succession. The living Lord of the Church is making direct, dynamic appointments in His body today. Scripture References: 1 Tim. 3:1-7, Titus 1:5-9, Rom. 12:3-8; 2 Cor. 3:5, 6; 5:18-20; Eph. 3:7;4:11; Col. 1:23-29; 1 Thess. 1:3 (harvestnorman.com)

Barelahim, I do hope that this does help answer your questions. Please feel free to write back if you need more help.

God bless,
Elder Greg Madden